Androgens regulate cell growth, lysosomal hydrolases and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase in mouse aorta.

The aorta in male mice shows higher activities of several lysosomal hydrolases and of cytochrome c oxidase, an inner mitochondrial membrane enzyme, than in female mice. Orchiectomy abolishes this sex difference, whereas testosterone administration induces an accretion of RNA and protein and elevated activities of lysosomal hydrolases and cytochrome c oxidase. However, the outer mitochondrial membrane enzyme monoamine oxidase is unaffected by sex, orchiectomy or testosterone. Thus, androgens regulate cell growth and enzymes associated with lysosomes and the inner mitochondrial membrane.